Metal shelf support



May 12, 1925.

J. SCHAEFER METAL SHELF SUPPORT Filed May 6 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 12,1925. 1,537,267

7 J. SCHAEFER METAL SHELF SUPPORT Filed May 16 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 INVENTOR Patented May 1 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SOHAEFER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE VAN DORN' IRON WORKS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

METAL SHELF SUPPORT.

Application filed May 1Q, 1921. Serial No. 469,904.

The object of the invention is to provide.

an improved metal shelf support which is of simple construction and can be readily embodied in cases or cabinets where the supporting member is a single metal wall. such as a hollow post; in which the shelf is securely clamped to the supporting members I and indeed is more tightly wedged in place by increase in weight thereon; in which the shelf is readily adjusted to various-levels by simply detaching a clip and adjusting it to a new position; and finally to provide a con-- structionof this kind embodying a special form of clip or supporting device and a connection therefor to the supporting member.

Other objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, 1 represents a front elevation of a portion of a metal cabinet embodying the inventidn; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan v ew on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating one of the posts and the clip receiving notches therein; Fig. 4 is a similar view of the adjustable clip; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation on the line 55, Fig. 3. showing a portion of a shelf assembled in the cabinet; Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation, similar to Fig. 5, showing a modification; and Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of another modification.

The invention may be embodied in many forms of cases or cabinets, in fact wherever shelves are to be attached to a support. The drawings show a set of metal shelving embodying corner and intermediate posts 1 connected to each other by the end sheets 2 and a top sheet 3, the lower ends of the posts being suitably connected in any manner, not shown. In the construction of cabinets of this kind the corner posts are; frequently made of hollow members, such as the sheet metal channel members shown, and as the shelves are supported by the flanges of these channels some special supporting device is necessary for connection of the shelf thereto. In the drawings, the inner or shelf supporting flange of each post member is provided with a series of regularly spaced socketsor openings 4 of substantially T form as shown in Fig. 3, the central portion 5 of each opening extending below the laterally extending wings 6 thereof. These openings are spaced at regular intervals vertically, say an inch apart. By locating them at the same levels on all posts the shelf to be supported is capable of vertical adjustment at intervalsof one inch.

For co-operation' with each post member there is provided a special clip or shelf securing device shown in detail in Fig. 4. This clip is a metal member having a body portion 7 bent intermediate its ends into channel form, as indicated, to form an extension 8, to enter the recess 4. The extension 8 is also provided with two laterally extending ears or wings 9, one on either side, which are adapted to pass through the Wings 6 of the recesses 4. When the clip is moved down with the extension 8 seated in the depending portion 5 of an opening 4 these ears 9 lie behind the re-entrant corners or angle portions 10 of the metal at the opening. Below the projection 8 the body portion of the clip has a depending portion 11 which lies in front of the solid body metal of the post member. as in Fig. 5, and serves to transmit the strain of the weight of the shelf to said member. Above the projection 8, the body portion of the clip is extended upwardly, as at 12, and preferably at a slight angle to the vertical. This upwardly extending portion 12 serves with the wall of the post member to form a recess to receive and confine the shelf or shelf supporting member.

between the extension 12 of the clip and the wall of the post member, and to more conveniently enter it into this recess the extreme upper edge of the extension 12 may be bent to a rather sharp incline, as shown angle bracket. For example, referring to.

Fig. 5, the shelf there illustrated comprises an angle member of proper length with the horizontal flanges notched out to enable said angle member to be bent around the four edges of the shelf member. Around this bent angle is bent a sheet metal member 16,

thereby forming a self contained sheet metal I shelf member, with its four edges re-enforced by angles. This shelf is attached to the corner posts by merely pressing the vertical flanges of its sheet metal covered an le members down into the recess between t e clip and post members.

With either the shelf shown in Fig. 5, or the angle bracket shown in Fig. 6, the flanges of the angles are slightly tapered or of increasing thickness downwardly. This feature, coup-led with the slight inclination of the clip extension 12 serves to wedge the shelf or angle bracket, as the case'may be, into the recess of the clip, and therefore not only draw the shelf more tightly toward the post members, but also wedge it solidly into place, the effect increasing with the weight of the shelf and what it supports.

Fig. 7 shows another arrangement where the clips are introduced into T-shaped recesses in a metal plate 20 secured by screws 21 to a wooden wall 22oover a recess 23 therein. The operation is the same as in the other forms before described.

What I claim is:

1. Shelf supporting means, comprising 9.

porting clip formed of sheet metal andhaving a central portion bent into U form to enter said recesses, and provided with latejral wings or ears adapted to lie behind the re-entrant corners of said recesses.

3; In a device of the class described, a

shelf supporting clip formed of sheet metal and'having a central portion bent into U- form, said u -shaped portion being provided with lateral wings or ears adapted to engage the marginal portions of recesses in a vertically extending supporting member, the end portions of said clip being formed as oppositely extending flanges, one of said flanges being adapted to engage the front marginal portion of an opening in which the clip is inserted to support the weight of the shelf while the other marginal flange is adapted to maintain a spaced relation from the marginal portion of such recess or opening so as to permit the insertion of a shelf for supporting the same.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

JOSEPH SCHAEFER. 

